Market could be stifled by low sales
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The lack of new van sales and subsequent poor supply of used vans could stifle recovery for small businesses, says BCA
Words: Kevin Swallow
A BRITISH CAR Auctions report says poor new van sales and dwindling supplies of used vans could affect the small business sector and stifle growth.
The used Light CV Market Report 2012, written by Professor Peter Cooke at Buckingham University Centre for Automotive Management, suggests the number of cheaper, good-quality used vans will decline in the next few years due to lower new van sales caused by the recession as well as large corporate fleets keeping vans for longer before selling them on.
The choices for small businesses or a fledgling sole trader buying a used van are becoming limited, he says. “Buy a younger van and pay a premium; pay less but get an older higher mileage van; or defer the change completely and incur additional costs.”
Small businesses are the largest buyers of used vans, preferring vehicles up to five years old, he says. The report estimates that there could be a shortfall of more than 342,000 vans by 2015. ■